And behold, you will be silent
and unable to speak
until the day that
these things come to pass.
— Luke 1:20
In the first article by this title, we focused on an answer to prayer that was decades in the making. Zechariah and Elizabeth, who lived in the Judean hill country, had seen their hopes for children extinguished by their advancing years.
While his division of Levites was on duty in Jerusalem, Zechariah was chosen by lot to perform the evening task of setting the lamps and incense in order in the temple.
We tend to think of a lottery or choosing by lot as a form of chance. The Bible never presents the act of being chosen by lot as chance, however. It is always seen as God making His will known in a matter. Show me someone who thinks chance exists, and I will show you someone who doesn't think God exists. God and chance cannot coexist.
Exodus 30:7,8 describe what was entailed in this task. "Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it (the altar); every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps in the evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations."
So here was a duty stretching back over centuries. The incense was a special formulation (Exodus 37:29) which was not to be mixed for any other purpose and was symbolic of the prayers of Israel rising to God Who is seated in the true temple in heaven.
In the first of two annunciations (Gabriel's announcement to Mary being the second), Gabriel describes to Zechariah how Elizabeth is to bare the long-awaited prophet Elijah (Malachi 3:5), the last great promise of the Old Testament who has been anticipated by Israel for several centuries. Can we blame Zechariah if he looks at his circumstances and doubts the announcement? "For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." (Luke 1:18)
In response to his unbelief, Gabriel points out to Zechariah, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news." (Luke 1:19) In other words, Are you doubting the word I bring you from God Himself who can do anything He wants in heaven and on earth?
"And, behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." (Luke 1:20)
Now, this double description — "silent and unable to speak" — does not describe one infirmity as I once believed. I thought Gabriel rendered Zechariah mute, but it was more than that. He also rendered him deaf and that is what it meant by "silent."
When we read on in the account, we find that the extended family anticipates the baby will be named after his father. To their surprise, Elizabeth reveals his name will be John. The relatives turn to Zechariah, "And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called." (Luke 1:62) It is not necessary to make signs to someone who can hear.
So, Zechariah was both deaf and dumb. Tomorrow, we will take a further look at some of the implications of this temporary disability.
While his division of Levites was on duty in Jerusalem, Zechariah was chosen by lot to perform the evening task of setting the lamps and incense in order in the temple.
We tend to think of a lottery or choosing by lot as a form of chance. The Bible never presents the act of being chosen by lot as chance, however. It is always seen as God making His will known in a matter. Show me someone who thinks chance exists, and I will show you someone who doesn't think God exists. God and chance cannot coexist.
Exodus 30:7,8 describe what was entailed in this task. "Aaron shall burn fragrant incense on it (the altar); every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall burn it, and when Aaron sets up the lamps in the evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations."
So here was a duty stretching back over centuries. The incense was a special formulation (Exodus 37:29) which was not to be mixed for any other purpose and was symbolic of the prayers of Israel rising to God Who is seated in the true temple in heaven.
In the first of two annunciations (Gabriel's announcement to Mary being the second), Gabriel describes to Zechariah how Elizabeth is to bare the long-awaited prophet Elijah (Malachi 3:5), the last great promise of the Old Testament who has been anticipated by Israel for several centuries. Can we blame Zechariah if he looks at his circumstances and doubts the announcement? "For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." (Luke 1:18)
In response to his unbelief, Gabriel points out to Zechariah, "I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God; and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news." (Luke 1:19) In other words, Are you doubting the word I bring you from God Himself who can do anything He wants in heaven and on earth?
"And, behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." (Luke 1:20)
Now, this double description — "silent and unable to speak" — does not describe one infirmity as I once believed. I thought Gabriel rendered Zechariah mute, but it was more than that. He also rendered him deaf and that is what it meant by "silent."
When we read on in the account, we find that the extended family anticipates the baby will be named after his father. To their surprise, Elizabeth reveals his name will be John. The relatives turn to Zechariah, "And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called." (Luke 1:62) It is not necessary to make signs to someone who can hear.
So, Zechariah was both deaf and dumb. Tomorrow, we will take a further look at some of the implications of this temporary disability.
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